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Liability car insurance with 50/100/50 limits costs $829 a year on average, and your state has the biggest effect on your rate. Wyoming drivers pay the least, at $367 a year, while Florida drivers pay $1,635, more than four times as much. Each state sets its own coverage requirements and has its own traffic, accident and lawsuit rates, which drive what insurers charge there.

You may also pay more if you’ve received a ticket or caused an accident. Insurers set rates based on how likely you are to file a claim, and a recent violation, being under 25 or, in most states, having a lower credit score all signal a higher chance of said claim. The car you drive also impacts how much you pay, since some makes and models cost more to cover than others.

The calculator below estimates your rate based on your state and car, so you know what to expect before you shop. If a quote comes in well above your estimate, it’s a sign to compare other insurers before you buy.

How to pay less for liability insurance

  • Compare quotes from at least three insurers. Prices for the same liability coverage vary from company to company, so comparing is the quickest way to find a lower rate.
  • Ask which discounts you qualify for. Safe driver, paperless billing and autopay discounts can all lower your bill.
  • Bundle with home or renters insurance. Many insurers discount both policies when you buy them together.
  • Get a quote before you buy a car. Rates vary by make and model, so a quote shows you what the car will cost to insure before you commit.

How to use our liability coverage calculator

Enter your car’s year, your state and your car’s make and model, and the calculator will show your estimated liability insurance cost in seconds.

Liability coverage car insurance calculator

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How much does liability insurance cost by state?

Liability insurance costs the most in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Nevada, where average premiums top $1,400 a year. Every state on that list except Nevada requires drivers to carry personal injury protection, which pays your own medical bills after a crash, so even a basic policy costs more. Wyoming, Vermont, Maine and South Dakota cost the least, all under $500 a year, helped by lighter traffic and fewer claims.

The table below shows the average annual cost of 50/100/50 liability coverage in every state.

StateAverage annual premium
Alaska$605
Alabama$610
Arkansas$753
Arizona$896
California$985
Colorado$753
Connecticut$1,130
Washington, D.C.$1,052
Delaware$1,449
Florida$1,635
Georgia$964
Hawaii$549
Iowa$523
Idaho$638
Illinois$579
Indiana$548
Kansas$781
Kentucky$778
Louisiana$1,338
Massachusetts$882
Maryland$929
Maine$478
Michigan$1,390
Minnesota$903
Missouri$616
Mississippi$701
Montana$570
North Carolina$681
North Dakota$608
Nebraska$585
New Hampshire$608
New Jersey$1,505
New Mexico$650
Nevada$1,414
New York$1,451
Ohio$513
Oklahoma$637
Oregon$922
Pennsylvania$603
Rhode Island$1,039
South Carolina$874
South Dakota$490
Tennessee$641
Texas$928
Utah$916
Virginia$706
Vermont$435
Washington$695
Wisconsin$680
West Virginia$720
Wyoming$367
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What does liability insurance actually cover?

Liability insurance pays for damage and injuries you cause to someone else in an accident that’s your fault. It does not cover your own car or your own injuries — that’s what collision and comprehensive coverage are for.

  • Bodily injury liability: Pays for the other person’s medical bills and lost wages if they’re hurt in an accident you caused.
  • Property damage liability: Pays to repair or replace the other person’s car, or anything else you damaged, like a fence or a mailbox.

So if you crash into someone else’s car, liability insurance pays for their car. If your own car gets damaged in that same accident, liability insurance won’t pay a cent toward fixing it.

Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote.

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How much liability coverage do I actually need?

Most states only require a small amount of liability coverage, but that minimum often isn’t enough to fully cover a serious accident. If you own a home, have savings, or just want stronger protection, it’s worth carrying higher limits than your state requires.

Liability limits are written as three numbers, like 50/100/50, which stand for $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 total for injuries in one accident and $50,000 for property damage. Higher limits mean your insurer pays more of a serious accident’s costs, which leaves less for you to cover out of pocket.

NumberCoverageWhat it means
1st numberBodily injury per personThe most your insurer pays for one person’s injuries in an accident you caused
2nd numberBodily injury per accidentThe most your insurer pays for everyone’s injuries combined, if more than one person is hurt
3rd numberProperty damageThe most your insurer pays to repair or replace someone else’s property
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Frequently asked questions

How much liability insurance do I need?

At minimum, you need whatever your state requires. But if you own a home, have savings, or just want more peace of mind, it’s worth going higher than the standard of 50/100/50 that we have used, since a serious accident can cost more than that covers.

Is minimum liability coverage enough?

Usually not. It meets the legal requirement, but it can leave you paying out of pocket if an accident causes serious injuries or expensive damage. Raising your limits is often cheap and gives you a lot more protection.

Does liability insurance cover my own car?

No. Liability only pays for damage or injuries you cause to someone else. To protect your own car, you’d need collision and comprehensive coverage too — which would be considered full coverage insurance.

How is my liability insurance rate calculated?

Insurers look at things like your state, driving record, age, credit, and the car you drive. That’s why rates vary so much from person to person and state to state.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned liability-only car insurance rates from Quadrant Data Services across all 51 states. Rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, a good insurance score, and 50/100/50 bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, driving a Honda Accord LX with a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage. We compared 65,756,440 insurance quotes from 195 insurance companies (73 company groups) across 34,595 ZIP codes and 29,159 cities. The national average annual premium is $829. The rates are for comparison purposes only, your exact premium may vary.

Read more about our research standards and methodology.

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Laura Longero
Executive Editor

 
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Laura Longero is an insurance expert with 15 years of experience simplifying complex financial topics, Laura provides clear, expert-backed guidance to help drivers make smart, confident decisions.

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